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Heat and Dust

Play trailer 1:58 Poster for Heat and Dust R 1983 2h 13m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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79% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
When Anne (Julie Christie) discovers a long-forgotten family scandal involving her deceased grandmother, Olivia (Greta Scacchi), she decides to investigate further by traveling to the scene of the crime: India. In the 1920s, Olivia had been married to an official in the colonial government, but had an affair with an Indian man that resulted in an abortion and disgrace. By coincidence, Anne also finds herself conducting an affair with an Indian man, and faces similar social prejudice.

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Heat and Dust

Critics Reviews

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Gavin Millar Sight & Sound Mar 16, 2020
As a meditation on time, or colonialism, or national character, or on fashions in religion, philosophy, or medicine, or on the immutabilities of sex, Heat and Dust is as wise as it is unpretentious. Go to Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian Mar 8, 2019
4/5
After 37 years, Heat and Dust stands up as an intelligent, ambitious, substantial picture - with flaws but also intriguing aspects that were perhaps not sufficiently understood at the time. Go to Full Review Bilge Ebiri Village Voice Aug 29, 2017
There's a whole lot of cathartic pain in Heat and Dust, if you know where to look for it. Go to Full Review Kat Halstead Common Sense Media Sep 25, 2024
This won't be remembered as one of Merchant Ivory's classics, but it's an enticing story beautifully rendered nonetheless, and one that won Jhabvala a BAFTA for her adapted screenplay. Go to Full Review David Bax Battleship Pretension Dec 11, 2020
Heat and Dust's mistake is the protraction of Anne's narrative into more than the framing device it logically ought to be. Go to Full Review Molly Haskell Vogue Feb 26, 2020
In retreating from emotional involvement with its characters, Heat and Dust ultimately suffers from the gentility it parodies. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Deborah Fain Aug 24, 2024 This film was OK but definitely not their best. Liked the discussion of not so old colonialism and Raj. But too long and repetitive. See more Al H @Mulee Feb 13, 2026 I like to watch films with culture. Julie Christie is a big pull. Interesting scene unacknowledged in the hospital after Anna abortion, behind the Dr, on the wall, a large spider runs around; enough to get you well quickly & out of there. See more S R @ScottR May 3, 2025 Interesting to see a take on more complex social issues of the day through a reflective look back on ancestors who lived in India during complicated times. I expect the story didn't resonate with India, despite its intrigue that would appeal to some Westerners. NYT 1000 movies list and SLC DVD. See more Jul 18, 2021 A typical "Ivoryan" movie fascinating , stylish and very very "colonially british". More than well directed and acted by the whole cast. Great Scacchi and bright Christie ! God save The King...and Gandhi too ! See more May 11, 2020 Great movie Beautiful movie See more Jun 11, 2013 Anyone who wants to say a word about British India should read Forster's A Passage to India carefully. The 1982 movie's view of India regresses greatly from Forster's 1922 view. See more Read all reviews
Heat and Dust

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Cast & Crew

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James Ivory

Director

Julie Christie

Anne (1982. In Satipur Town)

Greta Scacchi

Olivia, his wife (The Nineteen Twenties in the Civil Lines at Satipur)

Christopher Cazenove

Douglas Rivers, the Assistant Collector (The Nineteen Twenties in the Civil Lines at Satipur

Julian Glover

Olivia, his wife (The Nineteen Twenties in the Civil Lines at Satipur)

Susan Fleetwood

Mrs. Crawford, the Burra Mensahib (The Nineteen Twenties in the Civil Lines at Satipur)

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Heat and Dust

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Heat and Dust

Heat and Dust (1983) Heat and Dust (1983) Heat and Dust (1983) A scene from "Heat and Dust." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When Anne (Julie Christie) discovers a long-forgotten family scandal involving her deceased grandmother, Olivia (Greta Scacchi), she decides to investigate further by traveling to the scene of the crime: India. In the 1920s, Olivia had been married to an official in the colonial government, but had an affair with an Indian man that resulted in an abortion and disgrace. By coincidence, Anne also finds herself conducting an affair with an Indian man, and faces similar social prejudice.
Director
James Ivory
Producer
Ismail Merchant
Screenwriter
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Distributor
Universal Classics
Production Co
Merchant Ivory Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 24, 1983, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Sep 1, 2017
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 12, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$19.9K
Runtime
2h 13m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby
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